EU signs Kigali Amendment

Following its ratification of the Kigali Amendment, yesterday, The EU has called on all Parties to the Montreal Protocol to take action on HFCs as soon as possible.

The call came from Miguel Arias Cañete, the EU commissioner for climate action and energy, who said: “Delivering on the Kigali commitments will play a vital role in our global efforts to tackle climate change, as well as driving innovation and creating new economic opportunities in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.”

The EU was joined this week by Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia and Mexico, bringing the total number of companies to have ratified the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFCs to 53. Sri Lanka has also indicated that it is on the verge of ratification.

Europe, already in the midst of its own phase down timetable, is taking a lead role in the initiative. The recent additions means 18 of the 28 EU member states have now ratified.

All 197 Montreal Protocol parties agreed to take steps to gradually reduce the production and use of HFCs. The first reduction step by developed countries begins next year, while most developing countries will start their phase down in 2024.